Pizza Express is aiming for a slice of the vinyl revival by launching its own record label.
The move extends the restaurant chain’s links with the music business. Founder Peter Boizot is a well-known lover of jazz while its flagship site in Dean Street in Soho hosts gigs with acts from Tony Bennett to Amy Winehouse having played there.
PX Records will release albums from new and established stars of the jazz and soul scenes alongside music from the chain’s extensive archive of live recordings at venues including Soho, Holborn and Chelsea.
Its first releases include albums by US saxophonist Scott Hamilton and British soul act Mamas Gun with more to come this year.
Ross Dines of PX Records said: “The PX Records vision is to celebrate the Pizza Express Live legacy and to share some of the incredible performances that we get to experience across on a daily basis.
“When listening to recordings, we’re always struck by the quality of the audio and by how perfectly they captured the energy and excitement of the show itself. A Pizza Express record label has long been a dream here and we’re delighted that it’s coming to fruition.”
As well as supporting established acts from Charlie Watts to Van Morrison, the chain has also given live debuts to up-and-coming acts from Jamie Cullum to Gregory Porter at the start of their successful careers.
All the label’s albums will be available to download as well as on CD and vinyl. The revival of vinyl has been one of the biggest stories to hit the music industry in recent years. Last year Taylor Swift’s Midnights became the first major album to sell more in vinyl than CD since 1987.
The chain backs music therapy charity Nordoff & Robbins with 25p from every padana pizza it sells going to help fund their work.
